Cap-stand for gas cylinders



Oct. 31, 1961 P. R. OXENHAM CAP-STAND FOR GAS CYLINDERS Filed Feb. 24, 1960 PETER R. OXENHAM INVENTOR United States Patent 3,006,360 CAP-STAND FOR GAS CYLINDERS Peter Rolfe Oxenham, Kennett Square, Pa., assignor to E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 10,793 2 Claims. (Cl. 137-382) This invention relates to a valve guard, or cap, and stand for compressed gas cylinders or similar containers.

Pressure cylinders, or similarly constructed tanks for holding compressed gases, are usually in the form of elongated cylinders having one flat end on which the cylinder normally rests, the top end of which is rounded and has a neck portion with a screw-threaded opening in which a valve of various designs may be threaded to permit both loading and unloading of the cylinder with gases under pressure. Usually these cylinders are also provided with an externally-threaded portion on the neck of the cylinder which is concentric with the valve opening and onto which a closed cap can be threaded to encase and thereby protect the valve while the cylinder is being handled, as well as during storage or shipment Various types of stands have been provided which also act as guards for the valve, but usually these stands must be rigidly fastened to the cylinder to prevent ready removal. In some instances they are welded directly to the tank or are screwed tightly on the threaded portion of the neck where the valve cap usually is threaded. In cases where the cylinder is to be used in an inverted position so that it rests on the stand surrounding the valve, it is difiicult and in some cases impossible to adjust the valve while the tank is in the inverted position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve guard and stand for compressed gas cylinders which can be tightly secured to the cylinder but which is capable of being readily turned or swiveled on the cylinder to permit free access to the connections on the valve and to the valve stem itself. It is a further object of the invention to provide a cap-stand for compressed gas cylinders which provides ready means for carrying the cylinder and which can remain permanently on the cylinder to pro tect the valve in storage and shipment, as well as in use.

In the accompanying drawing which forms a part of the present specification:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the cap-stand of the prevent invention, fixed to the end of a compressed gas cylinder;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of a cap-stand;

FIGURE 3 is a section in elevation taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of a cylinder as it rests on the stand in an inverted position.

-In the accompanying drawing, the numeral .1 designates a gas cylinder or similar container having a neck portion 2 into which a valve 3 is normally threaded. This neck portion is externally threaded as at 3a to accommodate a threaded cap which protects the valve during handling and storage. This cap, however, must be removed during use.

The cap-stand of the present invention, generally designated by the numeral 5, is cylindrical in form, having openings on opposite sides, as at 6, to provide adequate 3,006,360 Patented Oct. 31, 1961 space through which one may reach and operate the valve when the cap-stand is in position. The openings are shaped to provide hand holds 7 by which the cylinder may be carried when the cap-stand is in fixed position. A third handle 8 is provided for convenience in carrying and particularly to permit holding of the capstand firmly while inverting the cylinder to rest on the top end of the stand as shown in FIGURE 4.

The cylindrical stand of the present invention has a base portion 10 with a cylindrical opening concentric with the cylindrical body of the stand itself. A threaded collar 12 with a top flange 13 fits into the opening in the base of the stand sufliciently loosely so that the stand can be readily turned about the collar 12. A ring 14 is welded to the collar portion to hold the collar 12 securely in the base and to permit the base and collar to rotate relative to each other. The collar is provided with threads 15 to cooperate with the threads on the neck of a gas cylinder as more particularly shown in FIGURE 3. The collar portion 12 is provided with holes 17 to accommodate the lugs on a spanner wrench whereby the collar 12 may be readily threaded tightly on the neck of the cylinder by a spanner wrench, thereby avoiding ready removal of the usually available tools. When the cap-stand of this invention is fixed to the neck of a gas cylinder or similar container, it provides protection for the valve 3 and permits ready access to the valve when the cylinder on which the stand is fixed is either in the upright or when resting on the stand in the reverse position.

It will be obvious that in place of threading the collar 12 onto the cylinder, it may be fixed by welding or similar means so that it will not be removable but will still allow the stand to be swiveled relative to the cylinder.

The rotatable stand is preferably made from cast aluminum, malleable iron or steel, while the parts of the threaded collar are preferably made of steel and assembled on the base of the stand by Welding the two parts together as at 18. The stand of the present invention is rotatable relative to the cylinder and valve, allowing easy access to and manipulation of the valve. The cylinder with this stand attached can stand in an upright position on either end so that either liquid or gas can be taken from the cylinder. The construction of the stand also provides handles for the cylinder, yet it protects the valve mechanism from injury during handling or storage. Where the collar 12 is made to be applied by the use of a special spanner wrench, it cannot be readily removed by the tools ordinarily at hand for operating the valve or making connection thereto.

While a specific embodiment of the invention is disclosed, it will be understood that the details of construction may be varied without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A cap and stand for compressed gas cylinders, which cylinders have a neck on one end with an opening to accommodate a valve assembly, the cap and stand comprising a cylindrical body of a length and diameter sufiicient to encase the valve assembly and form a stand for the cylinder, said body of the stand having openings at opposite sides sufficiently large to permit access to the valve, hand holds on said cylindrical body, said cylindrical body having a base portion with a circular opening concentric with the body portion of said cylindrical body, a swivel collar irremovably fixed in said opening, said collar having an opening adapted to fit over the neck of said cylinder and be affixed thereto so that the cap and stand may be rotated thereon.

2 A cap and stand for compressed gas cylinders, which cylinders have a neck on one end with an opening to accommodatea valve assembly, said neck also being externally threaded, the cap and stand comprising a cylindrical body of a length and diameter sufficient to encase the valve assembly and form a stand for the cylinder, said body of the stand having openings at opposite sides sufliciently large to permit access to the valve, hand holds on said cylindrical body, said cylindrical body having a base portion with a circular opening concentric with the body portion of said cylindrical body, a swivel collar irremovably fixed in said opening, said collar having a threaded opening adapted to be screwed onto the neck of said gas cylinder, whereby the cap and stand are fixed to the cylinder and capable of being rotated thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,234,458 Underhill Mar. 11, 1941 

